Method of washing clothes



Nov. 7, 1967 J. c. WORST METHOD OF WASHING CLOTHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 7, 1966 FIG! INVENTOR. TOSEPH C. Woks? ATTOR EY Nov. 7, 1967 J. c. WORS 3,350,729

METHOD OF WASHING CLOTHES Filed March '7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 F'lG.2

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PAusE'A PAUSE B PAUSE c; Orr WASH |-$Pm-{ "RINSE'J l+s uu-{ I 43 1 l W 41 l V 4o w INVENTOR TOSE-PH c. woKsT pus ATTORNEY United States Patent C 3,350,729 METHOD OF WASHING CLOTHES Joseph C. Worst, 3602 Hyclilfe Ave,

Louisville, Ky. 40207 Filed Mar. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 532,459

3 Claims. (Cl. 8-159) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of washing fabrics wherein the fabrics first are agitated in a cleaning fluid at a slow speed for thorough mixing with the fluid to form cleaning fluidsoil particle bonds and then are agitated at a high speed to remove the cleaning fluid-soil particle bonds from the fabrics.

Automatic washing machines normally include a container means to receive a body of cleaning fluid and clothes or other fabrics to be Washed in the fluid. Means are provided for causing relative motion between the various parts of the fabrics and between the fabrics and fluid, called agitation. It is this agitation which causes the fabrics to be cleaned and causes wear of the fabrics. The optimum washing method is one which obtains the best balance between washing (removal of soil) and wear of the fabrics. Prior art machines have recognized the desirability of such optimization by tailoring the wash speed to the type of load. For instance, many such machines provide a regular speed wash cycle for regular loads of mixed fabrics and a low speed wash cycle for delicate fabrics which can take less wear, but at the same time, are generally less soiled.

-However, none of the prior art machines provide an optimum washing cycle. I believe that this is because of a failure to properly integrate the action of the detergent used with the action of the agitation of the fabrics. Detergents form bonds with the various soil particles while agitation has a dual purpose. Until the detergent-soil bonds are formed, agitation primarily is effective to thoroughly mix the detergent-water solution with the fabrics. During this time reasonable agitation may loosen some large soil particles such as sand. However, any appreciable separation of soil from fabrics during this time can be accomplished only by an agitation rate which is so high as to cause excessive wear of the fabrics. After the detergent-soil bonds have formed, the agitation is effective to loosen these bonds from the fabrics. The agitation level required to cause a thorough mixing of the detergent solution with the fabrics is low and any agitation above this level during the initial portion of the wash cycle is of essentially no benefit and causes unnecessary wear of the ice ing, preferably at a relatively low rate for a first period and then at a relatively high rate for a second period. The agitation means also causes the fabrics to turn over in the cleaning fluid and the second period is of suflicient length for the fabrics to accomplish one turnover.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the coneluding portion of the specification. My invention, however, may better be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a partial schematic front elevational view of a clothes washing machine adapted to accomplish my invention, the view being partly broken away and partly in section to illustrate details;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of an electrical control circuit for controlling the operation of the machine of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is a schematic view of a developmentof the cam surfaces used in the control of the timer operated switches of FIGURE 2, thereby indicating the operations of the switches by cams throughout the cycle.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, there is shown, in schematic form, an agitator-type Washing machine adapted to accomplish my new and improved method of clothes washing, the machine being generally indicated by the numeral 1. Machine 1 includes a clothes basket 2 having perforations 3 over its side and bottom walls and disposed within an outer imperforate tub or casing 4, the basket 2 and tub 4 forming together fluid and clothes containing means. The entire structure generally is mounted within a suitable appearance and protective cabinet which, in this case, has been omitted for purposes of clarity. At the center of basket 2 there is provided a vertical axis agitator 5 which includes a centerpost 6 and a plurality of curved vanes 7 extending out from the centerpost and connected together at their base by a flared skirt 8. Both basket 2 and agitator 5 are movably mounted. conventionally, the basket is mounted for rotation and the agitator is mounted for some type of oscillatory motion which will effect agitation of the fabrics in the basket. In one conventional structure, basket 2 may be secured to a hollow shaft member 9, and the agitator may be secured to a shaft 10 which extends up within shaft 9 in rotatable relation thereto.

Basket 2 and agitator 5 are driven from a reversible drive motor 11 through a drive including a clutch 12 mounted on the motor shaft. Clutch 12 allows the motor to start without load and then pick up the load as it comes up to speed. A suitable belt 13 transmits power to a transmission assembly 14 through a pulley 15. Thus, depending upon the direction of motor rotation, pulley 15 of transmission 14 is driven in opposite directions.

Transmission 14 is so arranged that it supports and drives both shafts 9 and 10. When motor 11 is rotated in one direction the transmission causes agitator 5 to be It is a further object of this invention to provide such oscillated through shaft 10. Conversely, when the motor is driven in the opposite direction, the transmission drives basket 2 and agitator 5 together at high speed through shafts9 and 10 for centrifugal extraction of fluid from the fabrics.

1 Clutch 12 also is a two-speed clutch so as to provide for various operating speeds of the machine, and in this connection a solenoid mechanism 16 (including a coil 17 to control a plunger 18 which operates a control member 19 through a spring 20) is provided in order to achieve a two-speed operation. Specifically, in the illustrated machine, when solenoid coil 17 is tie-energized the clutch 12 provides a direct drive between motor 11 and pulley 15, and when the solenoid coil 17 is energized clutch 12 provides a reduced speed drive to pulley 15.

In addition to operating transmission 14 through clutch 12 as described, motor 11 also provides a drive through a flexible coupling 21 to a pump structure generally indicated at 22, which may include two separate pump units 23 and 24, both operated simultaneously in the same direction by motor 11. Pump unit 23 has an inlet which is connected by a conduit 25 to an opening 26 formed in the lowermost point of tub 4. Pump unit 23 also has an outlet which is connected by conduit 27 to a suitable drain (not shown). Pump unit 24 has an inlet connected by a conduit 28 to the interior of tub 4 and an outlet connected to a conduit 29. Conduit 29 is arranged to discharge liquid through a suitable filter (not shown) back into tub 4 and basket 2.

A valve 31 is adapted to supply hot and cold water to the machine, the valve being connected to hot and cold water sources (not shown) by conduits 32 and 33. The valve 31 has solenoids 34 and 35 so that energization of solenoid 34 permits passage of hot water through the valve, energization of solenoid 35 permits passage of cold water through the valve, and energization of both solenoids permits mixing of hot and cold water in the valve and passage of warm water therefrom through an outlet conduit 36 extending from the valve. From the outlet conduit 36, the water passes through an inlet nozzle 37 mounted adjacent the upper edge of tub 4 and into the container means formed by the tub 4 and basket 2. The level to which water rises in basket 2 and tub 4 may be controlled by any suitable liquid level sensing means such as pressure switch 38. In a conventional manner, when the water rises in tub 4 and basket 2 it exerts increasing pressure on the switch 38, and when the pressure reaches a predetermined level, the pressure switch 38 is effective to shut oil water inlet valve 31.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, a suitable electrical control system for the machine of FIGURE 1 will be described. In connection with the circuit of FIGURE 2, it will be understood that the present-day washers often include various improvements such as control panel lights, bleach dispenser controls, etc., which do not relate in any way to the present invention, and that, to some extent, these have been omitted for the sake of simplicity and ease of understanding.

In order to control the sequence of operation of the components of machine 1, the circuit includes a timer motor 39 which drives a plurality of cams 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44. These cams, during their rotation by the timer motor, actuate various switches (as will be described), causing the machine to pass through an appropriate cycle of operations, first washing the clothes, next extracting the wash fluid from them, then rinsing the clothes in clean water and finally extracting the rinse water from the clothes. The operating surfaces of the various cams are shown in developed form in FIGURE 3 and will be further discussed herebelow in connection with the description of the operation of the machine.

The electric circuit as a whole is energized from a power supply (not shown) through a pair of conductors 45 and 46. Cam 40 controls a switch 47 which includes contacts 48, 49 and 50. When the cam has assumed a position where all three contacts are separated, machine 1 has been disconnected from the power supply and is inoperative. When the operation of machine 1 is initiated, as will be explained below, switch 47 is controlled by cam 40 so that contacts 48 and 49 are engaged. When the main switch 51 is closed manually by the user through a suitable operating member (not shown), power is then provided to the conrtol circuit of the machine from conductor 45 through contacts 48 and 49. From contact 49 the circuit extends through conductor 52, control solenoid 34 to a manually operable switch 53; also, from conductor 52, a circuit extends through control solenoid 35 to a manually operable switch 54. In addition, a circuit is completed from conductor 52 through. solenoids 34 and 35 to a pair of stationary contacts 55 and 56 respectively. These two contacts form a part of a switch 57 having a movable contact 58 controlled by cam 41. When contact 58 is in its up position engaging contact 56, it completes a connection through solenoid 35 to conductor 59 and when contact 58 is in its down position engaging contact 55, it completes a connection through solenoid 34 to the conductor 59. Thus, it will be seen that when switches 53 and 54 are open, energization of solenoids 34 and 35 is under the control of switch 57. When switch 53 is closed, the hot water solenoid is energized independently of the position of switch 57, and when switch 54 is energized the cold water solenoid is energized independently of the position of switch 57. From the hot and cold water solenoids the energizing circuit extends through conductor 59 and then through a coil 60 of a relay 61, the main winding 62 of the motor 11, a conventional motor protector 63, a conductor 64, a switch 65 controlled by cam 43, and switch 51 to the conductor 46.

Motor 11 is of the conventional type which is provided with a start winding 66 which assists the main winding 62 during the starting of the motor and is energized in parallel therewith. When a relatively high current passes through the relay coil 60 it causes a relay contact 67 to be closed. This permits an energizing circuit for the start winding to be completed in parallel with the main winding through a contact 68 of a switch generally indicated at 69 and which is controlled by cam 42, contact arm 70, the relay contact 67, the start winding 66, a contact arm 71 and a contact 72 of switch 69. A circuit is also completed in parallel with the motor 11 from conductor 59 through the timer motor 39.

The relay coil 60 is designed to close contact 67 'When a relatively high current, of the level demanded by the motor when the motor is rotating below a predetermined speed, is passing through it. At other times, when there is no current passing through the relay coil 60 or when the current is below the required energizing level, as is true in the running speed of the motor, the contact 67 is open.

When the main winding 62 of motor 11 is in series with the valve solenoids 34 and 35 as described, a much lower impedance is presented in the circuit by motor 11 than is presented by the valve solenoids. As a result, the greater portion of the supply voltage is taken up across the solenoids, and relatively little across the motor. This causes whichever of the solenoids is connected in the circuit to be energized sufficiently to open its associated water valve. As a result, water at a suitable temperature is admitted to the machine through outlet 36 and inlet nozzle 37, with motors 11 and 39 remaining inactive.

This action continues, with the circuitry so arranged that the water pours into the basket and tub 4. Because of the perforations 3, the water rises in both the basket and tub at the same rate. This head of water acting on pressure switch 38 increases until it reaches the point at which switch 38 is closed. When switch 38 closes, it provides a short circuit across the solenoids directly from conductor 52 to conductor 59 so that, with the solenoids thus excluded from the effective circuit, they become de-energized. A high potential drop is provided across winding 62 of the motor 11. This causes the relay coil 60 to close contact 67 to start the motor 11, while at the same time, timing motor 39 starts so as to initiate a sequence of operation. At any time before or during the introduction of the water, or immediately after the starting of motor 11 a suitable detergent may be added to basket 2 and tub 4 to combine with the water and form an effective cleaning fluid.

Completing the description of the circuit of FIGURE 2 prior to describing in full its operation, it is to be observed that the switch 65 is in series with the main motor 11 but is not in series with the timing motor 39. Thus, by the opening of this switch, the operation of motor 11 may be stopped. The timing motor will nonetheless continue to operate, as a result of the fact that the timer motor 39 is deliberately provided with an impedance much greater than that of the valve solenoid so that it will take up most of the supplied voltage and will continue in operation leaving so little voltage across the solenoids that they do not operate their respective valves.

A further point of the circuit of FIGURE 2 is that when the arms 70 and 71 are moved by cam 42 to engage contact 72 and a contact 74 respectively, the polarity of the start winding is reversed. The circuit from conductor 59 then proceeds through contact 74, contact arm 71, the start winding 66, relay contact 67, contact arm 70, and contact 72 to the protective device 63 and conductor 64. Thus, provided motor 11 is stopped or slowed down so that relay contact 67 is closed, reversal of switch 69 is effected to cause the motor 11 to rotate in the opposite direction from that previously provided once the motor is'started up again.

In order to energize the motor 11 independently of the'water level switch 38 and the valve solenoids when spin isto be provided, cam 40 is formed so that it may cause all tlireelcontacts 48, 49 and 59 of switch 47 to be closed during the extraction or spin step. This causes the power to be supplied directly through contact 50 to conductor59 and the motors, rather than through the water level switch or the valve solenoids.

One further point to be noted with regard to FIGURE 2 is that clutch control solenoid coil 17 is connected at one end to conductor 59 and at the other end to a manually operable switch 75 which selectively may be moved into engagement with any of three contacts 76, 77 and 78. When switch 75 is in engagement with electrically isolated'cont-act 76 the circuit to coil 17 is always operi so that the coil is continuously de-energized. When switch 75 is in engagement wtih contact 77 coil 17 is connected between conductor 59 and conductor 64 through a switch 79 controlled by cam 44. When switch 75 is in engagement with contact 78 coil 17 is continuously connected between conductor 59 and conductor 64.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 in conjunction with FIG- URE 2, a sequence of operation of machine 1 to accomplish my new and improved method of washing fabrics will be described. It will be assumed that the timer has been set so that cam 40 has caused contacts 48 and 49 to be closed, cam 41 has caused contact 58 to engage contact 55, cam 42 has positioned switch 69 as shown, cam 43 has closed switch 65 and cam 44 has moved switch 79 to its closed position as shown. It also will be assumed that manual switch 75 has been set in engagement with contact 77 as shown. At this point the first step which takes place is the filling of the machine 'with water by the energization of one or both of the solenoids 34 and 35 and the consequent inactive status of motors 11 and 39 as previously explained. As previously explained the filling continues until the closure of pressure switch 38, at which point the solenoid or solenoids are de-energized and consequentially motors 11 and 39 are energized. Energization of motor 11 is in the direction to cause oscillatory motion of the agitator which, with manual switch 79 set in engagement with contact 77 and switch 79 closed by cam 44, will be at the lower of the two available speeds.

The oscillation of the agitator causes a thorough mixing of the cleaning fluid (formed from the water and a suitable detergent which has been added either manually or automatically) with the fabrics in the machine to be washed. As the cleaning fluid is mixed with the fabrics detergent-soil bonds are formed between the detergent and the various soil particles in the fabric. This low level or gentle agitation of the fabrics causes some flexing of the fabrics within the Water and a rubbing or various portions of the fabrics against other portions which may loosen some heavy soil particles such as sand and provide some relatively minor loosening of detergent-soil bonds from the fabrics. This agitation continues for a predetermined time suflicient to provide a thorough mixing of the cleaning fluid and fabrics. After this predetermined period of time cam 44 causes switch 79 to open so that solenoid coil 17 is deactivated. With coil 17 deactivated the clutch 12 is effective to provide high speed operation of transmission 14 to oscillate agitator 5 at a higher rate of speed. This high level agitation continues for a second period.

During the second period the high rate of agitation loosens and separates the detergent-soil bonds from the fabrics. The agitation, whether it be by means of an oscillating agitator as shown, a wobbling agitator, an orbiting agitator or any other conventional means of agitating the fabrics and fluid also cause the fabrics in the machine to turn over. That is, the fabrics within the basket 2 will be moved so that each of the individual fabrics Will in turn be brought adjacent the agitator. One turnover is'the length or period of operation wherein substantially all of the individual fabrics have been brought adjacent the agitator one time. Regardless of the form of the agitation means, this turnover is necessary because the power supplied to the fluid and fabrics by' the agitation'means is as quickly dissipated in the fluid so that the fabrics close to the agitation means are cleaned more than the fabrics more distant from the agitation means. Thus, to have a uniformly clean wash, fabrics must be moved within the container so that they are serially brought adjacent the agitation means. The second or high level period of agitation continues for a length of time suflicient for the fabrics in the machine to accomplish substantially at least one turnover at which time pause A is reached and timer cam 43 opens switch65. This stops the operation of motor 11 and consequentially there is no further agitation although, as explained the timer continues to operate. During pause A cam; 40 moves to its spin position at which time it closes all three contacts 48, 49 50. Cam 42 reverses switch 69, and cam 44 closes switch 79.

As a result of this, when at the end of pause A switch 65 is reclosed by cam 43, motor 11 is energized once again (by virtue of the bypassing of solenoids 34 and 35 by switch 47) but in the opposite direction. As explained, this causes spinning of basket 2 and also operation of pump 23 to pump out liquid from tub 4 to drain.

This spinning and extracting operation continues until pause B is reached at which time switch 65 is again opened by cam 43, cam 40 disconnects contact 50, cam 42 reverses the start winding connection, and cam 41 moves switch 58 into engagement with contact 66. When the pause B is ended by the closing of switch 65, one or both the solenoids 34 and 35 are energized in the same manner as previously, the only difference being that if both switches 53 and 54 are open the cold water solenoid 35 will be energized instead of hot water solenoid 34 which was previously energized. In this manner, the basket will be filled with water, and when the proper level has been reached the motor 39 and 11 will start to provide a timed rinse agitation operation (with the agitator being operated at low speed because switch 79 is closed).

After the rinse, a third pause C is provided during which the timer-operated switches are positioned in the same manner as during pause A. Thereafter, a second spin operation will be provided to remove the rinse water. At the end of the second spin the machine is turned off with the clothes in a clean, rinsed condition and dampdried by the centrifugal force of the last spin.

With the sequence of operation just shown optimum cleaning of the fabrics will be obtained, that is, effective soil removal is obtained with a minimum amount of wear on the fabrics. Contacts 76 and 78 are provided to give the operator a full choice of cycle. The switch 75 may be set in engagement with contact 76 for what is conventionally known as a wash-and-wear cycle. Certain delicate garments such as womens underclothing may be ex cessively worn or damaged by any high agitation and spin and setting of switch 75 in engagement with contact 76 insures that clutch solenoid 17 is continuously energized so as to provide a completely low speed operation. Such cycles normally satisfactorily clean delicate garments because they are generally less soiled than the average load of mixed fabrics Conversely, engagement of switch 75 with contact 78 insures continuous connection of solenoid coil 17 between conductor 59 and conductor 64 to provide a continuously high speed operation. Such an operation will provide a more effective washing procedure; however, at the cost of substantially more wear on the fabrics. Such a cycle would be acceptable for a load of heavily soiled fabrics such as cotton work clothes. These fabrics require a more thorough cleaning and are also more resistive to wear and damage.

It will be seen that by my invention I provide an optimum method of washing fabrics which takes best advantage of the action of the detergent and the agitation means to give the optimum balance of soil removal versus fabric damage. It will be understood that while in accordance with patent statutes I have provided what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from my invention, and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A method of washing soiled fabrics in a washing machine having a receptacle for fabrics and cleaning fluid, containing a detergent, and multi-speed agitation means for agitating the fabrics in the fluid; including the steps of first operating the agitation means at a low speed for a period of time to gently agitate the fabrics and thoroughly mix the cleaning fluid and fabrics so that bonds may form between the detergent and particles soiling the fabrics, and then operating the agitation means at a high speed for a period of time to vigorously agitate the fabrics so that the detergent-soil bonds are removedfrom the fabrics.

2. The method of washing as set forth in claim 1 wherein the agitation means causes the fabrics to turnover in the cleaning fluid and the agitation means is operated at high speed for a period of time sufficient to cause the fabrics to accomplish at least substantially one turnover.

3. A method of washing soiled fabrics in a washing machine having a receptacle for fabrics and cleaning fluid,

containing a detergent and multi-speed agitation means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1937 Hume 6823 6/1951 Chamberlin 815'9 WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,350,729 November 7, 1967 Joseph C. Worst ror appears in the above numbered pat- It is hereby certified that er the said Letters Patent should read as ent requiring correction and that corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 3 and 4, for "Joseph C. Worst, 3602 Hycliffe Ave., Louisville, Ky. 40207" read Joseph C. Worst, Louisville, Ky. assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York line 21, after "time" insert to column 8,

Signed and sealed this 26th day of November 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. A METHOD OF WASHING SOILED FABRICS IN A WASHING MACHINE HAVING A RECEPTACLE FOR FABRICS AND CLEANING FLUID, CONTAINING A DETERGENT, AND MULTI-SPEED AGITATION MEANS FOR AGITATING THE FABRICS IN THE FLUID; INCLUDING THE STEP OF FIRST OPERATING THE AGITATION MEANS AT A LOW SPEED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TO GENTLY AGITATE THE FABRICS AND THOROUGHLY MIX THE CLEANING FLUID AND FABRICS SO THAT BONDS MAY FORM BETWEEN THE DETERGENT AND PARTICLES SOILING THE FABRICS, AND THEN OPERATING THE AGITATION MEANS AT A HIGH SPEED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TO VIGOROUSLY AGITATE THE FABRICS SO THAT THE DETERGENT-SOIL BONDS ARE REMOVED FROM THE FABRICS. 